Page 64 of Dissection of Immortal Hearts

Her steps quickened as she descended the stairs, and soon a broad room came into view – a mix of sitting and dining areas. Standing by one of the wooden windows, with his back to her, was Mikhail.

Amelia hurried towards him, forgetting her exhaustion in the rush of emotion. Her heart soared, and whatever Viktor was shouting behind her fell on deaf ears.

Mikhail turned, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. She paused before him, drinking him in. He seemed unharmed. The claws of fear gripping her heart since his capture finally loosened.

Then, he raised a questioning eyebrow. “Amelia, I presume?”

A chill replaced the warmth in her body.

His gaze travelled down her nightgown. “If I didn’t need you to break your spell, I’d have killed you while you slept.”

“Mikhail…?”

His hand shot out, grabbing her shoulder and spinning heraround. Her back struck the wall, and his forearm pressed against her chest, pinning her there.

“Mikhail!” Viktor’s voice rang out behind her.

Golden irises pierced hers, and her breath caught in her throat. She remained stiff under the weight of his forearm, searching his face, struggling to find a trace of the Mikhail she knew amidst the clenched jaw and rigid muscles.

He doesn’t remember you. Viktor’s warning, shouted mere moments prior, had gone unheard while she rushed to Mikhail. Now, it echoed in her mind.

Mikhail wrinkled his nose and sniffed her, just as he’d done during one of their first encounters.

“Let her go!” Victor said.

Mikhail bared his teeth, not releasing her.

“Leave us, Viktor,” Amelia said, her eyes locked on the manticore’s. Whatever had happened, hewouldremember her.

Without warning, Mikhail moved back. The pressure on her eased, and she sagged against the wall, then slid down to the floor. Viktor started towards her, but she stopped him by lifting her hand. “Mikhail, what’s going on? Why are you like this?” Her voice trembled.

His gaze burned with fury. “You bewitched me to give you my ring, then erased my memories of you. Now I expect you to return both.”

“Mikhail, look at me! I’m Amelia, the Oracle. I don’t wield magic.”

“I’ve already explained – she didn’t enchant you!” Viktor interjected. “We found you together, both of you unconscious, and—”

Mikhail’s chin tilted towards Amelia. “Explain this to me, creature. If no dark magic is involved, why would I give you a ring that holds such meaning for me?”

“Because you love me.”

The muscles in his face twitched, and then he laughed – a sharp, mocking sound. “Nice try.”

“Ask your friends—”

“The fact that my friends have also fallen for your trick proves how powerful your magic is. But I can’t ignore the simple truth that I don’t know you.”

“That’s not true,” Viktor said. “You know her well, and I’ve seen you with her. The second your memory returns, you’ll want to rip your own hands off for laying them on her.”

Mikhail gave her a once-over, his expression unreadable. “You have one week to fix this. If, by then, I still don’t remember how or why I handed you the ring, I will kill you.”

Amelia froze in the face of such a direct threat.He’s not bluffing.He turned and headed for the door.

“Mikhail!” she called after him, but he ignored her.

Viktor grabbed her hand. “Give him time. We’ll figure out how to restore his memory, I promise. Maybe the Queen’s to blame for this.”

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